Finnish Jazz Federation celebrates its 50-year anniversary by a special jazz prize Yrjö-themed concert and art exhibition at April Jazz Festival in Espoo next week. On the concert day, Friday the 22nd, opens not only the Around 50 Yrjös exhibition at Espoo Cultural Center, but also a remarkable 50-year history study online here in Jazz Finland.
Founded in 1966, the Finnish Jazz Federation celebrates its 50 years in enhancing the jazz culture in Finland. The anniversary celebrations begin with a concert of a jubilee orchestra, led by saxophonist Mikko Innanen. Innanen, like all the musicians and guest soloists in the band, have received the annual Yrjö prize from the Jazz Federation. The Yrjö prize is considered the highest accolade that a musician can receive for their artistic value and input to Finnish jazz. Later in the year the band tours Finnish jazz festivals with various soloists. The premiere in April Jazz displays the biggest array of guests on stage.
Yrjö Award
The Yrjö award ceremonies take place during the annual National Jazz Convention, organized in hometowns of the federation's member organizations. The tangible Yrjö prize has throughout the years been a work of art or craft by a professional or an upcoming local artist of the town in question. For the anniversary, the Federation has collected ten pieces that represent the spirit of jazz and the art culture in Finland to an audiovisual exhibition. The exhibition is open at the April Jazz from April 20 to 24 and later in the year the exhibition also tours Southern Finland. The exhibition is curated by Nina Suni, MA.
History Publication
The third, if not the most appropriate way that Finnish Jazz Federation pays homage to the great men and women who have built our jazz culture, is a massive history of the federation's work during the past 50 years. The history will be published on April 22 on this very same Jazz Finland website, and you can also access it by using the link www.jazzliitto50.fi. The history is written and reseached by Janne Mäkelä, MPHIL.
Jazzliiton Juhlaorkesteri
Fri, April 22 at 7.00pm April Jazz, Tapiolasali, Espoon Kulttuurikeskus (Kulttuuriaukio 2, 02100 Espoo)
Tickets 30,50 / 35,50€ at Lippupalvelu
BAND
Mikko Innanen, sax (Yrjö 2008) / Teemu Viinikainen, gtr (Yrjö 2009) / Kari Ikonen, piano (Yrjö 2013) / Ulf Krokfors, bass (Yrjö 2015) / Teppo Mäkynen, drums (Yrjö 2007)
SOLOISTS
Eero Koivistoinen, sax (Yrjö 1967) / Seppo "Paroni" Paakkunainen, sax (Yrjö 1973) / Severi Pyysalo, vibes (Yrjö 1988) / Antti Sarpila, clarinet & sax (Yrjö 1997) / Anna-Mari Kähärä, vocals & piano (Yrjö 2002)